Young, Diabetic, And Losing Sight: Why We Need To Take Eye Health Seriously
Diabetes is no longer a condition of the old or middle-aged. In India, more younger adults, people in their 20s, 30s, and early 40s, are now being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. At the same time, children and teenagers living with Type 1 diabetes face an even higher lifetime risk of eye complications simply because the disease begins so early. While most people focus on sugar levels, medications, and diet, one of the most serious and silent consequences often gets ignored: progressive vision loss and retinal health.
Dr Pooja Prabhu, Consultant Ophthalmologist, Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital, Padmanabhanagar, reveals, “Nearly all forms of diabetes can affect the eyes, often without any symptoms at first. Damage can begin much earlier than expected, which makes awareness and routine eye exams absolutely essential.”
Why Are Young Indians Losing Vision?
Modern Indian lifestyles, sedentary routines, processed foods, stress, and long screen hours, have caused diabetes to strike earlier. With younger onset comes a longer duration of disease, and the longer one lives with diabetes, the higher the chance of developing diabetic retinopathy, a leading cause of preventable blindness.
Dr Pooja says, “Young people often dismiss early symptoms: slight blurriness, occasional floaters, or fluctuating vision. These are easily mistaken for screen fatigue or dryness. But ophthalmologists frequently detect early retinopathy even in patients who appear otherwise healthy. Without timely intervention, this damage can progress rapidly.”
For Type 1 diabetics, often diagnosed in childhood, the risk is even more significant. Long-term exposure to high sugars over many years makes the retina vulnerable earlier, making strict control and regular eye evaluations non-negotiable.
The Silent Danger: Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy progresses quietly. “In its early stages, it may not cause any symptoms. But as the disease advances, the retina starts swelling, leaking fluid, or developing fragile new blood vessels. These changes threaten central and peripheral vision and can ultimately lead to severe, irreversible sight loss,” she further reveals.
India is already among the countries with the largest diabetic population, and diabetic retinopathy is becoming a leading cause of blindness in working-age adults. Losing vision in one’s prime years can have devastating personal, financial, and emotional consequences.
Why Early Screening Is indispensable
Dr Pooja says, “Most diabetes-related blindness could be preventable if diagnosed early. A yearly dilated eye exam, and in many cases, a six-monthly exam, is the most effective way to catch problems before they impact sight.”
Yet many young diabetics and diabetics in general skip check-ups due to:
1. Assuming they are “too young” for complications
2. Believing good blood sugar control is enough
3. Busy schedules and lack of awareness
What Young Diabetics Can Do as a regular protocol
1. Get regular dilated retinal exams—yearly for Type 2, and yearly or twice yearly for Type 1.
2. Maintain strict sugar, blood pressure, and lipid control.
3. Avoid smoking, which worsens blood vessel damage.
4. Follow balanced screen habits, 20-20-20 rule, proper lighting, and breaks.
5. Seek urgent care if there is sudden blurring, floaters, or dark spots.
The Basic message
India’s diabetes burden is rising fast, and younger individuals are increasingly at risk of losing their vision much earlier in life. But diabetic retinopathy is largely preventable. With awareness, routine screening, and timely treatment, we can protect the eyesight of millions.
Your vision is priceless, and protecting it starts with your own lifestyle and a learned decision: diligent and regular eye care and eye check-ups.
(Views expressed by experts in the articles are their own; Zee News does not confirm or endorse the same. This article is meant for informational purposes only and must not be considered a substitute for advice provided by qualified medical professionals. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about diabetes, weight loss, or other medical conditions.)
